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Case ID: 5952
Classification: Throwing
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Puppies repeatedly thrown against wall
Monessen, PA (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004
County: Westmoreland

Disposition: Acquitted

Persons of Interest:
» Keilon Preston
» Keithon Majors
» Timothy Stitch

Police say an Allegheny County man threatened to kill the key witness in a home invasion case outside of the Westmoreland County Courthouse as the trial came to a close the week of November 1, 2005.

Westmoreland County detectives charged Gregory D. Howard, 37, of 1 Ipswich Court, in Pittsburgh's East Liberty section, with making terroristic threats. According to his arrest affidavit, Howard told Joshua P. Vanhooser, of Monessen, "Guilty or not guilty, you're going to (expletive) die when I catch you."

The two men were outside of the courthouse during a break in the trial for three men accused of attacking Vanhooser in his home with a gun and a knife while repeatedly throwing his two boxer puppies against a wall. Police say the Oct. 13, 2004, incident left Vanhooser with a concussion and cuts and bruises.

A safe containing $2,000 and a gold chain were taken during the burglary, police say.

Keilon Preston, 22, of Donora, and Keithon Majors, 19, and Timothy Stitch, 22, both of Monessen, were convicted of multiple charges after a jury deliberated for four hours.

Preston was acquitted of unlawful restraint and assault, for which Majors and Stitch were found guilty, but he was convicted of taking part in the burglary.

Each of the men was found not guilty of summary animal cruelty charges, according to court records.

Howard was arraigned before District Judge James Albert, of Greensburg, and released on $20,000 unsecured bond pending a hearing scheduled for Thursday in the death threat case.

Preston, Majors and Stitch are awaiting sentencing.

References

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